Freshman Is Moving Into Hurricanes Lineup

August 31, 1989|By Ed Giuliotti, Fort Lauderdale News & Sun-sentinel

CORAL GABLES — Darryl Williams grew up idolizing and emulating Hurricanes players. The past two weeks he has been terrorizing them.

Williams, from American High School, was listed as fourth-team free safety at the start of camp. After three impressive scrimmages, capped by an eight-tackle, two-interception performance Saturday, he has been elevated to second team behind Charles Pharms.

Williams is the only true freshman on the first two teams, which comes as no surprise to his high school coach, Charlie Yanda.

''Coach Yanda said he was one of the best players he has ever coached at American,'' Lubick said. ''We knew about some of the things he did in track, and he had our eye. We knew exactly what we were getting.''

UM Coach Dennis Erickson may have known, too, but it didn't stop him from referring to Williams as the team's biggest surprise.

''We expect him to contribute as a freshman,'' Erickson said. ''He'll end up playing a lot.''

A lifelong fan of the 'Canes, Williams, 19, has not been awed.

''My first reaction on the sideline was, 'Wow. Those guys are big,' '' he said. ''But I don't think about it. I figure that if you can play, you can play anywhere.''

He has been tested. Erickson is introducing a new offense that involves shorter routes for receivers, which can be tough on inexperienced defensive backs.

But quarterback Craig Erickson said that it hasn't bothered Williams.

''Darryl is a good player. You can notice from the quarterback spot a guy with talent in the secondary, and he's an athlete,'' Erickson said.

''He's not intimidated,'' Lubick said. ''He's very coachable, and he's worked himself into a position to play for us. He listens, and he's picked up the system very well. He's a hitter, a good tackler and adjusts to the ball well.

''I have no qualms about putting him into any situation.''

Williams said he knew after Saturday's scrimmage that he had made second team when Lubick singled out him and backup weak safety Hurlie Brown of Merritt Island.

He also knows where he has to go from here.

''It's been one of my dreams. Play here. Win a championship . . . the pros. I just have to work hard.''

UM NOTES: Guards Luis Cristobal and Darren Handy, who had been projected as starters before being slowed by knee injuries, worked out lightly. Erickson expects them back at full speed Monday. . . . Erickson said he will go slow with punter Tim Kalal, who has been out with a strained thigh muscle in his right leg. . . . UM's home opener at 4 p.m. on Sept. 16 against California will be televised by ESPN. . . . As of Wednesday, UM season-ticket sales have reached a record 50,093. Only an estimated 800 reserved sideline packages remain.